LIBERTY: The Jersey Central Lines Today

Following the mainline heading towards Allentown, the railroad enters the historic canal town of Freemansburg, PA. The CNJ served Scholl Lumber as well as a team track at Freemansburg, and was also a regular passenger stop. Freemansburg Station was demolished in 1966.

2/1/73: Eastward and westward tracks from west end of Oldenwelder
Industrial track (see above) to a point 100 feet east of Main Street
Freemansburg undergrade bridge is out of service except for M of W trains;

2/1/73: Westward track from east end of JU to the westerly side of Monroe
Street Freemansburg is out of service.  Westward track from a point 100
feet east of Main Street Freemansburg undergrade bridge is redesignated as
the Freemansburg Industrial track.

 

Leaving Republic Hill proper, the railroad bed heads west on a narrow shelf between a large rock formation and the Lehigh Canal.

 

Upon reaching Freemansburg, the line passes Lock #44 on the Lehigh Canal and the restored Locktender's house at the Freemansburg Historical Site. The Locktender's house is seen at the left of the photo.

 

Ther base for westbound automatic signal 801 and AAR style battery box.

 

Stone arch bridge 81/01 over the Nancy Run at Freemansburg.

 

The double track main line then crosses Main Street on steel girder bridge 81/03 that still has a nice Liberty logo.

 

Milepost 81

 

At Washington Street the base and pole for the crossing signal remain, albeit without crossbuck and flashers.

 

Freemansburg Station which was demolished in 1966.

 

After leaving the town of Freemansburg, the line passes through a remote area and curves along a massive rock outcropping.

Vintage photo of a westbound Lehigh & Hudson River freight train at the same location. The L&HR utilized trackage rights over the CNJ from L&H Junction in Easton to Allentown Yard from 1928 to 1971.

 

A short distance away is stone arch bridge 82/18. Again notice the large Keystone.

 

                                              Minsi Trail Branch

                  

Near Bethlehem, the Minsi Trail Branch diverged at MP 83.9. Actually more an industrial spur than a branch, the line extended .99 mile to serve the Just Born Candy Company. In later years the Air Reduction Co.(Airco) was also served. Please read the follow up entitled Minsi Rail Corp. about a shortline that was to operate the branch after its abandonment.

View of Minsi Trail Branch right of way paralleling busy Stefko Boulevard.

 

 

 

 

 

Please continue to the next page, CNJ Bethlehem